Teen Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 11-Year-Old At Minneapolis Park

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Amir Lamar Atkins at Folwell Park last month, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.

The teen suspect was taken into custody without incident on Tuesday morning in Apple Valley. He was booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.

"I am incredibly grateful to the hard work of the investigators who worked to complete a thorough investigation of this heinous crime," O’Hara said in a statement. "I am hopeful that this arrest brings a sense of justice for Amir and his family."

Amir was killed on the afternoon of June 23 after gunfire broke out at Folwell Park on Dowling Avenue North.

At 2:08 p.m., officers from the Fourth Precinct responded to reports of shots fired in the park. Witnesses told police they saw a vehicle driving through the park and two other vehicles moving through the adjacent parking lot around the time of the shooting.

Moments later, a resident sitting on his porch near Morgan and Dowling Avenues heard cries for help and discovered Amir and two other males outside his home.

The resident placed the boy and one of the others in his vehicle and began driving them toward the hospital. He flagged down an officer near Penn and Dowling Avenues, where the officer removed Amir from the vehicle and began lifesaving efforts.

Despite the efforts of police, firefighters, and EMS personnel, Amir was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation remains active.